Come on time if you want to ask questions on the floor. This was the message Wednesday of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to his colleagues as he turned down the request of Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III to delay the deliberation of the environment department budget because the latter was still on the road.
FOLLOW THE DEBATE ON MARTIAL LAW "It's now almost 11:30 (in the morning) [that] we opened, I was here before 10 a.m. I think that’s a reasonable time for anyone who is interested on any budget that is presented to us to be here to ask his questions if he has any questions to ask. And so with regret, the chair could not accede to the request," Enrile told the body. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri relayed Aquino's message to Enrile. Of the 23 senators, only Enrile, Zubiri, Senators Edgardo Angara (finance committee chairman) and Loren Legarda were present during the deliberations. Enrile told Senate reporters later he understood that the senators were late because they worked until 12 midnight (Tuesday) to discuss the proposed budget of the various agencies. "(But) I just want… to remind them that we do not have the luxury of time and we have to address the problems of the country, especially the budget, which we can’t afford a reenact. At the same time we have that problem of dealing with the proclamation of the President covering Maguindanao," Enrile said. “We are running out of time. I hope they will understand the position of the chair of the Senate," he added. Enrile said that if the chamber had enough time he would have granted Aquino’s request of interpellation, adding, “…if there is anybody who reserved his right to ask questions and he is not here on time, the chair will have to dispose the matter before it." However, Enrile said they are still on track, and that they would be able to approve the budget before the Congress goes on recess on December 18. Earlier in the day, the Senate discussed the budgets of the Office of the President, E-Government fund, Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Labor and Employment and attached agencies, Department Tourism and attached agencies and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. As of posting time, Senator Aquino could not be reached for comments as he was still in a meeting with other senators.
- LBG/RSJ/TJD, GMANews.TV